Issaquah Rotary Challenge Gravity Car Race / July 18, 2009
July 21, 2009
NEW — Sports update — Lakeside-Skyline, 5-Star Colts, Issaquah Arsenal
July 21, 2009
NEW — 12:27 p.m. July 21, 2009
Lakeside-Skyline heads to state
Lakeside-Skyline defeated Lakeside-Newport 12-4 July 14 at the district tournament to earn the No. 1 berth to the Junior American Legion state tournament that runs July 25-29 in Spokane.
Chris Tamminen, Skyline High School’s head baseball coach, is the head coach for the junior legion team, too.
“We’re excited to be going to state,” he said.
City offers severance package to employees as officials face $3.6 million shortfall
July 21, 2009
NEW — 11:10 a.m. July 21, 2009
Issaquah faces a $3.6 million budget shortfall, forcing city officials to consider layoffs and program cuts to rein in expenses.
Major sources of dollars for the city have sunk. Money raised through building permit fees and sales tax are down on account of the recession.
City Finance Director Jim Blake presented a revised 2009 budget forecast to members of the Council Services & Operations Committee Monday night.
Blake said the number of layoffs would hinge on the number of city staffers who accept a voluntary severance package. He said only a handful of volunteers had stepped forward so far. The program is open to all city employees.
“Anybody that takes a severance package decreases the number of people that we may potentially have to lay off,” Blake said.
Council could approve artificial turf for Central Park fields tonight
July 20, 2009
NEW — 10 a.m. July 20, 2009
Dark, soggy, grass sports fields in the Issaquah Highlands could be replaced with all-weather turf and sports lighting thanks to city park bond dollars and county and state grants.
City Council members will consider a finance package tonight to improve a pair of sports fields at Pad 3 in the highlands’ Central Park.
A bill headed to the council tonight asks officials to accept a $100,000 donation from the Issaquah Soccer Club to build a second lighted, artificial turf field at Central Park Pad 3. A $50,000 King County youth sports grant and a $500,000 state grant were also awarded to the project.
Annual Chalk Art Fest is Tuesday
July 19, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. July 19, 2009
Chalk Art Fest, presented by the city of Issaquah Arts Commission, is from noon – 5 p.m. Tuesday at the community center.
All entries will be judged at 5 p.m.; winners will be announced at 6 p.m. before the Concert on the Green.
Sidewalk space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Call 837-3300.
Use caution in construction zones
July 18, 2009
NEW — 3 p.m. July 18, 2009
With the summer months comes road construction. Whether it is on the highway or right here in Issaquah, on any given day or night, road crews can be found working.
It is important for your safety and the safety of others to follow these simple rules:
- Slow down — speeding is a major problem in construction zones.
- Give space between vehicles — maintain proper distance to avoid rear-end collisions.
- Be patient — impatient, frustrated drivers tend to take chances they might not otherwise take.
- Be observant for alternative traffic signs, devices and detours.
- If possible, find an alternative route.
- Move over for emergency vehicles.
The key is to always be safe and be patient!
Come to the Rotary Challenge Gravity Car Race tomorrow
July 17, 2009
NEW — 10:28 a.m. July 17, 2009
Everyone wins at the annual Issaquah Rotary Challenge Gravity Car Race, where disabled children get the feel of soap box derby action.
The annual event is from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday on Second Avenue Southeast between Southeast Andrews Street and Southeast Darst Street in Issaquah.
Youngsters race in gravity cars that are 7 feet long and 29 inches wide. Two children ride in each car. The driver is a regular child, from 11-13 years of age. The co-driver is a disabled child.
Lakeside will play in Super Regional
July 17, 2009
NEW — 10:27 a.m. July 17, 2009
Lakeside Recovery, shooting for a berth in next week’s Senior American Legion state tournament in Tacoma, plays Bremerton Legion at 2 p.m. July 18 in a Super Regional tournament at Newport High School.
The Lakeside-Bremerton game is the second on the schedule. In the opener at 11 a.m., the Twin City Titans play Red Lion, of Longview.
The winners of the first two games meet at 11:30 a.m. July 19. The losers meet in a loser-out game at 5 p.m. July 18.
Two teams will advance to the state tournament, at Heidelberg Park.
Lakeside tuned up for the Super Regional by playing Chaffey to a 9-9 tie July 16. Spencer Rogers had two hits and drove in two runs for Lakeside.
Westbound I-90 bridge will reopen Saturday, two days early
July 16, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. July 16, 2009
The westbound Interstate 90 floating bridge will open earlier than expected, transportation officials announced Tuesday. The bridge across Lake Washington will reopen to vehicles Saturday — two days ahead of the timeline announced by state Department of Transportation officials.
Crews finished pouring seven truckloads of concrete Tuesday to seal new expansion joints into place, according to a DOT update. Workers will spend about a day restriping lanes back to their normal configuration starting at 9 p.m. Friday. The express lanes will be closed most of Saturday for the restriping. Crews also began removing equipment Tuesday, according to the update.
Highlands gas station plan sputters forward
July 15, 2009
UPDATED — 1 p.m. July 16, 2009
Issaquah Highlands residents could someday fill up vehicles with gasoline or alternative fuels without leaving the hillside community — just not anytime soon.
Council Land Use Committee members approved plans for a highlands gas station Tuesday night, but voiced reservations about the plan during the process. Officials cited concerns about the environmental impact of a gas station and the construction of a fueling facility in the highlands while other promised retail options have lagged.
“It’s the pinnacle of my disappointment of how we haven’t gotten what we were hoping to get in the highlands,” Councilman John Traeger said. “I’m very frustrated about that.”
Officials will likely review the proposed agreement to allow a gas station in the highlands when the full City Council meets Aug. 17.
